Tech Data partners with Outpost24 to bolster password security options for partners

New tool for partners as credential compromise remains a leading attack vector.

Tech Data has partnered with Outpost24, giving partners access to its suite of cybersecurity solutions, including Specops software, which specialises in password and identity lifecycle management.

Partners will gain access to Specops password auditor, a free tool that evaluates password policy strength and detects compromised credentials within Microsoft Active Directory and Entra ID environments.

Tech Data will provide partners with pre-sales and go-to-market support, technical training and marketing outreach to support adoption of Outpost24 solutions across the ANZ channel.

Craig Ashwood, security business unit leader, Tech Data ANZ, said it’s an important addition to its portfolio and will help address one of the most time-consuming and high-risk areas of IT operations.

“Specops complements Tech Data’s growing security solutions stack, offering channel partners an opportunity to expand their identity and access management portfolios with proven, award-winning technology,” he said.

SpecOps suits markets and customers running Microsoft active directory or Microsoft Entra ID and is designed to strengthen password management. It comes as cyber attacks use the password reset process to intercept user accounts to infiltrate organisations.

“The best mechanism to protect individual credentials is to improve the efficiency of the overall password reset process, reduce the complexity of passwords and wherever possible implement multifactor authentication,” Ashwood told CRN Australia.

SpecOps platform in more detail

SpecOps offers a self-service process, enabling users to carry out the password reset process without an IT administrator, reducing time and cost of resetting individual accounts.

There is a mechanism to ensure that individuals can use fewer complex passwords that are more difficult to compromise and adhere to corporate policies.

It also provides the ability to deploy multifactor authentication on remote desktop services when connecting to user workspaces, applications or server operating systems. This is in line with Australia’s Essential Eight Framework to have coverage with multifactor authentication across more possible attack surfaces.

The SpecOps system will check new passwords against a database of known compromised passwords to ensure it is unique and not subject to possible re-use in other domains.

SpecOps also provides access to a zero-cost password auditor for Microsoft Active Directory environment to review password policies, re-used passwords, unused accounts and breached passwords.

In all, this combined offering gives partners a clearer path to strengthening identity management and password security across Microsoft environments.

“For enterprise customers, balancing security needs, such as password complexity, with the best possible security outcome is paramount,” said Ashwood.